Titan Tidings

Dear International School Families,

On behalf of the International School staff, we are very excited to begin another school year! We hope that this summer provided some time for refreshment and we are looking forward to seeing all of our students very soon. We value our sense of “community” within the school and are excited about the annual process of enhancing this strength and we look forward to creating opportunities to strengthen engagement.

This will be a special year for us, as we enjoy one final year in our current building before transitioning to our temporary location while our new school is built. This is an exciting time, and this year will include much more information about the future.

Another way we build connections is through support of our PTSA, parents, and community. Below is a message from our PTSA about ways to get involved. This year, we have many opportunities for family members to volunteer and to be involved in the school. We strongly encourage everyone to join our PTSA and to be part of the larger conversation with the school community.

This communication provides some broad information about getting ready for school as well as some action steps families need to take before school begins. As we approach the start of school, more specific information will be sent out.

We hope you enjoy these final weeks of summer and look forward to seeing all of you in the coming days.

Respectfully,

Russell White, Principal

Betty Nhan, Assistant Principal

We are excited to welcome our new staff.

• Kim Slater will be teaching our Visual Art classes. Kim joins us from Sammamish High School, where she has taught both Art and English.
• Chad Magendanz will be teaching our Computer Science classes. Chad also joins us from Sammamish High School, where he was a Computer Science CTE teacher.
• Jessica Dickinson will be teaching Humanities 6 and Humanities 9/10. Jessica is joining us from Highland Middle School.
• Ramps Rampersad will be teaching all levels of Band this year. Prior to being an elementary Band instructor this year, Ramps taught at Sammamish High School.
• Hailey Moilanen will be returning to IS and will be teaching AP Biology and AP Environmental Science.
• David Mildon will be teaching Humanities 7/8 and International Studies 6/7. Dave taught English and History for 11 years in Utah before moving to Washington (Lynnwood HS and Shoreline HS).
• Lisa Stewart will be our new Mental Health Assistance Team (MHAT) Specialist. Over the last several years, Lisa has served as an MHAT and Social Worker at Newport High School, Lake Hills Elementary, and Sammamish High School.
• Jenelle Crawford will be our new Nurse.
• Joanna Doran and Brett Tietz will be splitting our School Psychologist position.
• Abi Horsfall will be returning to the classroom and teaching IMT 1 and Algebra 1.
• Ed Wang is our new ITCL. Over the years, Ed has served as a Chinese teacher and New Teacher Mentor for the district.

This year, we will NOT be doing an in-person "Back to Business Day" as we have done in the past. This is partly due to practical changes (laptops will be distributed once school begins and school photos will take place during the school day in September), and partly due to the family conflicts that arise in August.

However, we know that it is helpful for some students and families to be familiar with the school before the first day of classes. To ease this anxiety for some, we will have an 'Open House" on Monday, August 31 from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. This OPTIONAL time is for students to be able to come to school and find their classes. Families are welcome. We will have some staff available to help navigate the building. Class schedules will be available in StudentVUE prior to the first day of school, but we will be able to print them out during this time if needed.

FinalForms is an on-line platform that allows you to enter information required for students to attend field trips, after-school activities, and participate in extracurricular activities. For International students, this also includes full participation in the PE program, Focus Week, High School Retreat, and 6th Grade Retreat. As a result, this is required for all families before the start of school.

Parents/Guardians and students need to update their information each school year. If you have not already done so, please sit down together as a family to complete your FinalForms documents before the first day of school.

Access for those with an account

To request an account

We continue with the reduction in fees for classes in order to ensure that all classes are accessible for every student. However, some fees may apply for your student. The easiest way to pay class/school fees is online. Fees for families that may be paid will include:

• High School Retreat (students in grades 9 – 12).
• Yearbook order (optional— more information coming soon)
• ASB membership (required for some and strongly encouraged for all—these funds provide the basis for all clubs and social activities at the school for students. All students who participate in a club or school activity MUST have an ASB card.)
• Parking passes (see below for more information)
• Music classes may have some fees that will vary for students. Please wait until after the start of the school year to confirm these fees.

ASB cards are available for the 2026 - 27 school year. ASB membership gives students access to participate in ASB clubs and supports school wide events such as assemblies, socials and retreats. Please click here for a full list of our ASB Clubs. You can purchase your ASB card online. Students who participate in clubs, Robotics, Drama, and middle school sports are required to have an ASB card to participate. ASB cards also provide reduced entrance fees to school activities throughout the year. Thank you for your support!

International School families may be eligible for free and/or reduced lunches. Additionally, families might also be eligible to have other school fees--including AP exams--reduced or waived. To access this, families need to complete and submit an application for Free and Reduced Meals through Nutrition Services to be eligible for either free or reduced fees. Families must check the Fee Waiver box when submitting these forms. This application is available at the district’s website and is expected to be available August 17.

If you submitted your parking application in June of 2026 and received a confirmation approval, you can pick up your pass during the Open House on August 31 (6:30 - 8:30 PM) or on September 1 (the day before school begins). You can pay online here. If you got your license over the summer and would like to submit an application, a message with a link will go out the first week of school via TEAMS and Email. Applications will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.

Students at International School typically have transportation options provided by both the district (“yellow buses”) and King County Metro (“ORCA cards”). Bus route information will be available on the district transportation page in the middle of August. Parents are encouraged to enroll for the district’s bus tracking program. For families new to International School, please note that the school buses depart International School at the end of 7th period and before Tutorial.

This year’s high school retreat for students in grades 9 – 12 will take place September 10 – 11 at Warm Beach Camp. This overnight camp is an opportunity to build the foundation of a strong and caring community for the year ahead. We also honor our commitment to a globally-focused education. This year we will focus on North Africa and the Middle East.

Steps to take include the following:

• Complete FinalForms for the 2026 – 27 school year.
• Pay the retreat fee of $150 through the online portal. Scholarships are available. Contact our high school counselor (Colleen Courtney) at courtneyn@bsd405.org for more information about scholarships.
• We will always take more parent chaperones!! We need to have parent chaperones assisting throughout the day and overnight in the cabins. If you are interested and available, please reach out to Betty Nhan at nhanb@bsd405.org.

The High School Retreat is replacing regularly-schedule classes for these two days. If your student has a conflict that prohibits them from attending, we can set up a supervised study space at school as an alternative. If your student will not be able to attend, please contact Betty Nhan as soon as possible.

One of the things that makes International School exceptional is the level of support we get from our family volunteers, especially when it comes to volunteering in the main office. We count on daily volunteers to keep things running smoothly throughout the year.

Thank you to those who have stepped up already to volunteer. We greatly appreciate all you do for IS. We still have some weekly or biweekly time slots available for office volunteers. If you are interested in contributing 2-3 hours a week as an office volunteer, please contact Mary Pyrah (Office Manager): pyrahm@bsd405.org.

In addition, we have two upcoming events - Super Wednesday (10/7) where we need volunteers to help proctor for the SAT or PSAT and School Photos Day (9/16) where we need volunteers to help direct and guide students in lining up for their photos. If you are available to volunteer for either Super Wednesday or Photo Day, please let Betty Nhan (nhanb@bsd405.org) know. Thank you in advance for all of your help!

Purchase your International School 2026-27 yearbook as part of your Back to School routine. Yearbooks will be available for purchase online in mid-to-late August for $55. New to Touchbase? Here's how to buy a yearbook. You may also check your Purchase History in Touchbase to see if another family member purchased a yearbook.

Class of 2027 yearbook info: Senior portrait, baby picture, and senior thank you due 9/21. Purchase your full-page grad ad for $40 no later than Oct 12 and submit digital art for grad ad by Nov 11. Learn more about Class of 2027 Yearbook Deadlines.

• College Boot Camp for Seniors (August 17 - 21)
• Open House to Find Classes (August 31, 4:30 - 6:30 PM)
• First Day of School - EVEN day (September 2)
• PTSA Ice Cream Social (September 2, 6:30 - 7:30 PM in Commons)
• No School (September 7)
• 6th Grade Retreat - at IS (September 9)
• High School Retreat (September 10 – 11, all school day and overnight)
• First Day of Tutorial (September 14)
• Curriculum Night (September 15, 6:30 - 8:30)
• School Photos (September 16)
• Club Fair (September 16, after school in Gym)
• 12th Grade Parent Night (September 24, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, Library)
• Middle School Social (September 25, 7:00 – 8:30 PM)
• Super Wednesday (11th Grade PSAT / 12th Grade SAT)
• No School (October 9)
• Hall Decorations (October 16 after school)
• Spirit Week (October 19 - 23)
• 11th Grade Parent Night (October 22, 6:30 - 7:30, Library
• Homecoming Dance for high school (October 24, 8:00 - 10:00)
• Parent Night for Grades 9/10 (November 5, 6:30 - 7:30, Library)
• End of 1st Quarter (November 6)
• No School: Veteran's Day (November 11)
• Fall Play Performances (November 13 - 14)
• 6th Grade Parent Night (November 17, 6:30 - 7:30, Library)
• High School Band Concert (November 19, 7:00, IPAC)
• No School: Thanksgiving (November 26 - 27)